The first race meeting I attended was....

[ERC]

Apparently, this track was in the running to host the first British GP but lost out to Silverstone.

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[nigel watts]

My first race meeting was the 1954 NZGP at Ardmore which I attended with my parents. I was 6 years old. All I can remember of that day is the shriek of the V16 BRM. Still have the programme - somewhere safe but I can't actually remember where!! No doubt it and several more from later GP's will turn up eventually.

[Shoreboy57]

Mount Maunganui street race. Was that summer of '63? If so I was 6. Sadly my only memory of the day is of a big green Zephy Mk111 - no chocolate fish for guessing who was driving that one - but it made me a fan of racing Fords for life. From there to Puke and a few years gathering up empty beer bottles at the end of the meet for Dad to cash in at the ABC next Monday for my pocket money

[Malcolm McLeod]

First race meeting was the 1990 NZ Grand Prix at Pukekohe, NZR bus to Auck then Puke outskirts, then a Police car to the circuit.
Pitched my tent in the infield pits underneath a tree, woke up the next morning surrounded by Mini's!
Got a ride home (and dinner!) on the Sunday night by Johnsy.
Remember seeing the Petch and Bagnall Sierras there, Denny having a chat to Radisich about tinted helmet visors, ans Jove Machelo was one of Graeme Lawrences drivers that year.
And Kenny won the Grand Prix...

[SPman]

It was either the '62 or '63 NZIGP at Puke (the year they had the works 250/4 Honda doing demo laps around the circuit) - turned me on to both car racing and multi-cylinder motorbikes. It might have been 1963.
I had a cousin who was an engine driver - he knew I liked trains, so, after a day spent in the cabs of various engines around the Auckland region, the next day, we went to the GP - it may have also have been by train - they used to run trains to the GP in those days. Got my license the week after I turned 15 (and got to drive a Lotus Elan a month after that), and didn't miss a meeting at Puke for 5 yrs! - an understanding father who was quite happy for me to take the family car and commute from Albany to Puke, with another mate who was also into car racing!

[seaqnmac27]

My first race meeting that I remember was the 1976 NZGP meet. I had not long turned 3. I have seen the pictures taken, but I only remember vaguely the images of colour. I remember specifically 3 events, first Sir Len Southwood driving the Indianapolis Stutz, he did laps with several notables, notably then Prime Minister Muldoon. Second, having my photo taken with my sister next to Miss Victorious. But most vivid in my memeory, not for its performance, but, as a 3 year old, because of the colours was Pat Crea's Cortina.

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[Michael Clark]

Wills 6 hour 1965. Mk 2 Jags to the fore. I would have been 7.

Things really hotted up with my first GP - January 1967. I've never fully recovered...

[John McKechnie]

Going surfing at aged 16 early Dec 1969 at Port Waikato, and we stopped at Puke race track, top of the hill side of the road where you could see the whole track.
Try doing that now.
Never heard a V8 or seen a race car till then..
Heard the big bangers with open exhausts ,,,I was sold
First car I saw the Team Cambridge Monaro ., which I now own.-then Camaro, Mustang, Mustang ,Escort..
Life changing experience and never went surfing again.
Talk about buying the first car that I saw, glad it wasnt a Formula V...........

[kiwi285]

My first race meeting was the 1955 NZIGP where Prince Bira won the race in the Maserati 250F. We used to go up by bus from Hamilton and always viewed for College corner (first corner after the start) It was a great viewing site and we had plenty to see. Unfortunately I never had a camera then so no photos to look back at.

For all info on early motorsport try this website - it is a mine of information that I am always referring to

http://www.sergent.com.au/motor/nzmr.html

Cheers Mike

[crunch]

Well; I am so much younger than you guys, I remember seeing stuff in colour, not Black & White!!
Motorsport in general was Cemetery Circuit Wanganui (without the H back then) about 1970....and cars was Manfield about 1973or 4 and the F5000's of Lawerence and a Tasmanian dude racing side by side lap after lap. Super exciting as they were passing each other as they went into Dunlop

[Ross Hollings]

Renwick Road Races 1961,just joined the RNZAF as a boy entrant at Woodbourne,was a hot day and still remember the hot tar smell,bits of hay bales floating around,loose gravel spitting off the race car tyres and the sounds of course.....i was hooked forever after that .We lived in Auckland then and I used to plea with my father to go to Ardmore but he would not go because of all the traffic !!!

[rf84]

Exactly the same as Michael Clark! Went to the Wills 3 Hour and 6 Hour in 1965. I was 15 years old and travelled from Hastings to Puke in an old Commer "mini van" with about 10 other members of our slot car club. My parents were very dubious about letting a 15 year old go away to Auckland for a weekend with a bunch of speed freaks they did not know. Don't know if they were more scared of me getting "lead astray" by the company or the bright lights of the "Big City"!
First GP was also same as Michael-'67 GP at Puke. Went with my elder brother who lived in Auckland. My most enduring memories?
The hordes of over heated cars littering the Southern Motorway. Car cooling systems were not what they are today and the traffic was bumper-to-bumper most of the way (about 2 and a half hours from the city to Puke). Over heated cars were parked on the edges of the motorway, on the median strips and (occasionally) on the motorway itself.
The potato salad my sister-in-law included with our packed lunch. For a lad from the provinces this stuff was very radical after the usual fare of lettuce and Marmite sandwiches and a taste (excuse the pun) of the gastronomic delights of the great metropolis.
Sneaking into the pits without paying. For my brother (who was employed in the security industry) this involved an hour or more of studying the possibilities and sussing out the 'weak' spots. Once in we were able to rub shoulders with all the famous drivers and get close enough to the cars to touch them. Thought we were in heaven.
F---ing up photos of the Lycoming Special. I was obsessed with that car. Even had Lycoming decals on my school bag. When I saw it in the flesh I was so excited I used up a whole roll of film on it. Decided that was not enough so took another lot. Only trouble was in my excitement I had put the exposed film back in the camera so when they were developed a week later I had 16 pictures of the Lycoming on 8 photos. Think I cried in the chemist shop.

[crunch]

F---ing up photos of the Lycoming Special. I was obsessed with that car. Even had Lycoming decals on my school bag. When I saw it in the flesh I was so excited I used up a whole roll of film on it. Decided that was not enough so took another lot. Only trouble was in my excitement I had put the exposed film back in the camera so when they were developed a week later I had 16 pictures of the Lycoming on 8 photos. Think I cried in the chemist shop.

Don't despair! If you still have those photos they would be considered very arty! May well actually look good from a different aspect??

[ERC]

I love this! rf84, you had me in tears of laughter!

We travelled to the Gamston meeting (pic below) and I remember the journey so well. Dad drove this, the company vehicle (we didn't own a car), and I sat in the back with two others, on those old folding wooden chairs.

Looking at the state of the van in the pic, it is no wonder that an MoT/Wof was introduced. The pic was taken outside the Mundella Works - the then HQ of the Tempest photography empire. Most schoolkids in the UK in the 50's would probably have had a Tempest school pic.

This was my only race meeting until Mallory Park in 1956 as apart from Silverstone, there weren't too many race tracks within travelling distance, especially if you had to rely on public transport.

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[Jac Mac]

Teretonga International, ~ 59/60?, I remember it was the short track minus elbow, with my uncle who had a 56 Bel Air Chev. One thing that really stood out was the 2-1/2 hours to get from car park by the hairpin out onto the bridge at the end of the day- about 1 mile. That was with 2 lanes of traffic virtually all the way to Invercargill, not good if you lived out Teretonga way and wanted to get home! Never seen crowds like that since, perhaps Motorsport needs to go back to haybales, open face helmets, tee-shirts & dog collars for safety equipment, seriously...no.. but it has gone overkill with one size fits all.

[John McKechnie]

dog collars for safety equipment

Who is supposed the wear the dog collar then Jack ?
Still think that safety belts are more safer than a dog collar, or did you have them in the black Imp?
My Monaro had a sign on it *Beware Dog*, should that be enough for some cars then?

[Jac Mac]

Dog Collars John, the leather strap variety, early alternative to the 'hood' pins that seem to fail, even last weekend. ' Must ' be FIA legal as Bruce McLarens Ford GT used several to hold the rear clip in place at Le Mans.
Seat belts, jury is out on them, been in 4 rollovers myself, two without belts which would have been ugly if the belt was worn & the two with belts, one which wouldnt have hurt at 10mph in a blizzard, the other, I dont know. Some of the crap I get asked to fix should have had a sign * I am a dog, drive me & I might bite!*.
In spite of the photo I did have belts on in the Imp, without them I might have been tempted to bail out when the brake pedal hit the floor about 200 meters before ' that ' pic.:)

[Growler]

I can't remember when exactly, but Jim Richards was running the big Sports Sedan XB(?) Falcon at Pukekohe.
I still have one of the post cards he was handing out on the day somewhere...

[Bryan]

B&H at Pukekohe in 1972 - loved the Fiat 125Ts. Then practice day for the 1973 GP - can only remember the F5000s at the new chicane:D. Then a visit to Wigram for the 1974 GP.

[rf84]

Your post #15 above Jac Mac reminds me of Teretonga 1976. I was mechanicking for Bryan Blackberry on the "Frist" Escort. The plod squad were tiring of drunkards at the event and warned everyone that they intended searching every vehicle entering the circuit for alcohol. They were true to their word to the extent that traffic was banked up from the circuit all the way back to Invercargill. Many fans never got to the motor racing that day. We were assured by the local Watties rep in Invercargill that we would get ample drink ("Frist was a division of the Watties group). At the conclusion of the racing we were told to go to the back of their delivery truck. There was a solid wall of soft drink cartons except for one small gap. A head appeared and we were helped inside. Once inside the entire area was empty except for a small area up front behind the cab. Behind another wall of soft drink cartons there was a cleverly hidden 'bar'. Afraid that the authorities might get suspicious with all the guests coming and going to the circuit's toilets they even concealed a camp toilet!

[seaqnmac27]

Your post #15 above Jac Mac reminds me of Teretonga 1976. I was mechanicking for Bryan Blackberry on the "Frist" Escort. The plod squad were tiring of drunkards at the event and warned everyone that they intended searching every vehicle entering the circuit for alcohol. They were true to their word to the extent that traffic was banked up from the circuit all the way back to Invercargill. Many fans never got to the motor racing that day. We were assured by the local Watties rep in Invercargill that we would get ample drink ("Frist was a division of the Watties group). At the conclusion of the racing we were told to go to the back of their delivery truck. There was a solid wall of soft drink cartons except for one small gap. A head appeared and we were helped inside. Once inside the entire area was empty except for a small area up front behind the cab. Behind another wall of soft drink cartons there was a cleverly hidden 'bar'. Afraid that the authorities might get suspicious with all the guests coming and going to the circuit's toilets they even concealed a camp toilet!

This is 77/8 at Teretonga, after it had been sold to Ken Sager

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[kiwi285]

I am sure it has been asked before and answered - but does the Frist Escort still exist ?? They were such great looking cars and still are.

[rf84]

Beaut photo seaqnmac-thanks for posting it.
I do not know where the car went and was not even aware that Ken Sager had bought it. I was always under the impression that Bryan sold it to someone by the name of Moore who had a car sales (I think on Princess Street) in Palmerston North. Bryan unfortunately is no longer with us and I don't know who else to ask about it's whereabouts.

[seaqnmac27]

Yep Mike Moore. Eventually it was painted Black under his ownership. I remember him racing it, probably 83-85 somewhere around there. But he also tried to sell it from about 1980 on

[crunch]

Beaut photo seaqnmac-thanks for posting it.
I do not know where the car went and was not even aware that Ken Sager had bought it. I was always under the impression that Bryan sold it to someone by the name of Moore who had a car sales (I think on Princess Street) in Palmerston North. Bryan unfortunately is no longer with us and I don't know who else to ask about it's whereabouts.

You are thinking of Mike Moore who had a car sales yard (Mike Moore Autos) on Rangitikei Street, Palmerston North up until a couple of years ago. He used a mk.1 Escort twin Cam in Shellsport, think it was black

[rf84]

Hi Raymond
Yes-that name sounds right. Think he was originally on Princess Street? (the one where the old Newmans bus depot used to be) just around the corner from Broadway and on the south side of the street (Newmans was on the northern side). Maybe a motel there now?
Could be wrong but seem to remember Blacky telling me Moore bought the car. Ken Sager (who it seems was the first owner after Bryan) owned the Albert Motor Lodge at that time so there definitely was a Palmerston North connection.

[RogerH]

My first race meeting was Ardmore 1960 when still at primary school. Went there with my dad and friend of his in the friend's black Aston Martin DB4. There were huge traffic queues so we went down a side road and got some tennis shoe white out of a bag in the boot and painted a number on the doors of the DB4. They thought we were a competitor so we were waved past all the queues and onto the track without paying and we parked behind the pits …….

[Carlo]

You are thinking of Mike Moore who had a car sales yard (Mike Moore Autos) on Rangitikei Street, Palmerston North up until a couple of years ago. He used a mk.1 Escort twin Cam in Shellsport, think it was black

While I could be corrected I am pretty sure that during the years we were involved with Shellsport Mike was running the car as a RS2000 rather than as a Twin Cam.
At the time Twin Cams were the domain of Bryce Platt, Father Harrington, Kirk Stoneman & Don Halliday

First race meeting would have to be a toss up between the 1st Grasstrack meeting of the Malborough Car Club and the Nelson Car Club New Year Beach Race meeting back about 1955 or 56 when I was in Standard 3 or 4.
Add in the Hawkesbury Motor Cycle races about the same time too.
First 100% sealed circuit meeting would be the 1959 Dunedin Road Race Meeting and 1st year of high school.

[crunch]

While I could be corrected I am pretty sure that during the years we were involved with Shellsport Mike was running the car as a RS2000 rather than as a Twin Cam.
At the time Twin Cams were the domain of Bryce Platt, Father Harrington, Kirk Stoneman & Don Halliday

First race meeting would have to be a toss up between the 1st Grasstrack meeting of the Malborough Car Club and the Nelson Car Club New Year Beach Race meeting back about 1955 or 56 when I was in Standard 3 or 4.
Add in the Hawkesbury Motor Cycle races about the same time too.
First 100% sealed circuit meeting would be the 1959 Dunedin Road Race Meeting and 1st year of high school.

Mike's Mark2 Escort was a RS2000 and I think that car became the "donor car" for Bob Holmwoods Sports Sedan Escort?

[ERC]

Surely there must be someone on here who spectated before 1951? There are times when I don't just think I am old, but know I AM old.

[Allan]

Sorry ERC if you were spectating in 1951 you are old.
For me the first meeting was Mt Manganui that I have posted pictures of. Also went to the first Wills six hour race in 63.
Allan

[Greg Mackie]

I wasn't going to admit it, but my first was Parramatta Speedway.....in 1946! Even though I was only 5 years old, the memories are still quite vivid of the noise, and the flashing of the chrome under the lights [it was night-time ].

[ERC]

Phew! So Allan, that makes me middle aged...

[Greg Mackie]

Nah, that make you fairly young....I'm middle-aged [except for a few bits, here & there].

[Oldfart]

Now that the pi%^ing contest is nearly over no-one else is going to post. :)

[seaqnmac27]

Mike's Mark2 Escort was a RS2000 and I think that car became the "donor car" for Bob Holmwoods Sports Sedan Escort?

I thought it was Mark Rutherfords Mk 2 that was the donor.

[crunch]

I thought it was Mark Rutherfords Mk 2 that was the donor.

Could well have been. I may be confused in the sense that M. Moore's Mk2 might have passed into Rutherford's hands before going to Bob?:confused:

[david5]

Mine was the 1983 James Hardie, stayed up all night watching old Falcons change colours and fell asleep about 3pm and missed the finish.

[Bruce Blacklock]

The first "proper" motor race meeting for me was Ardmore 1958. Watching the speed of the cars down the back straight was mind blowing for a 11 year old. The size of the crowd,the noise and the colours no wonder I was hooked for life!

[Habu]

I am sure it has been asked before and answered - but does the Frist Escort still exist ?? They were such great looking cars and still are.

Without wishing to hijack this thread any further, isnt the Frist car / shell owned by Chris Kitzen? Pretty sure theres a thread on here for it.

[GD66]

Same as Shoreboy and Allan, the Totara Street circuit at the Mount, and like Allan, the major memory is of Ernie Sprague hurling the green Mk 3 Zephyr around. Also the blatant introduction of (gasp !) advertising on race cars, with two or three cars bearing Team MolySlip stickers... also recall everyone being in awe of the dominance of Frank Matich, smooth and quick in the Repco-Brabham.

[Shoreboy57]

Same as Shoreboy and Allan, the Totara Street circuit at the Mount, and like Allan, the major memory is of Ernie Sprague hurling the green Mk 3 Zephyr around. Also the blatant introduction of (gasp !) advertising on race cars, with two or three cars bearing Team MolySlip stickers... also recall everyone being in awe of the dominance of Frank Matich, smooth and quick in the Repco-Brabham.

By chance does anyone know of the streets (other than Totara) used at the Mount?

[Kwaussie]

First road race was at Ryall Bush 1957, one lap = 5.84km. A real road circuit after all the small grass tracks in Southland at the time.
Highlight in the morning on the drive out was Reg Parnel driving his Ferrari 555 coming up behind us in the 30mph zone and as we passed the derestriction sign he took both hands off the steering wheel to put his goggles up and then roared past and into the distance.
Spent most of the day in the pit paddock collecting autographs. Peter Whitehead, Reg Parnel, Horace Gould, Ron Roycroft, Jack Brabham and many more. Went up to wire fence every now and then to watch the cars go by - but soon lost interest as they were going so fast. There were lots of girls around but as my mum was with me and I was just 12 years of age kept myself busy by looking at all the cars in the paddock area.

[Chris Kitzen]

Without wishing to hijack this thread any further, isnt the Frist car / shell owned by Chris Kitzen? Pretty sure theres a thread on here for it.

Can't be my car as it is RHD with RHD wipers. My car he never had RHD wipers fitted. There are other differences also by that's the most obvious.

[stubuchanan]

By chance does anyone know of the streets (other than Totara) used at the Mount?

The little grey cells are telling me it was Totara, Hewletts Rd, Tasman Quay, Hull Rd and back into Totara. I think Tasman Quay ran parallel to Totara for quite some distance north but seems to have vanished into the port area now. Can't confirm but someone will know out there.

Stu

[Habu]

Can't be my car as it is RHD with RHD wipers. My car he never had RHD wipers fitted. There are other differences also by that's the most obvious.

Apologies - thought it may have been.

Cheers
Habu

[crunch]

Well; I am so much younger than you guys, I remember seeing stuff in colour, not Black & White!!
Motorsport in general was Cemetery Circuit Wanganui (without the H back then) about 1970....and cars was Manfield about 1973or 4 and the F5000's of Lawerence and a Tasmanian dude racing side by side lap after lap. Super exciting as they were passing each other as they went into Dunlop

Wow!...sometimes it is just weird how stuff happens. I was down visiting my parents yesterday. They still live in the house I was born in. So I was walking past my old bedroom and somehow noticed a sticker that as a youngster I had applied to the back of my bedroom door so my mum couldn't see it and tell me off! She did a huge spin-out when I attached a few to the wallpaper before this...so I had learnt my lesson. Anyway; the sticker is a rectangle with a black backround and bold yellow lettering with smaller white lettering giving additional info. I remember as a kid thinking that it was a mite boring to look at but now when I read the 4 simple letters and 4 simple numbers, they evoke a passion and excitement that strangely takes me back to my boyhood.....incredible!

Oh;...the four simple letters and numbers???.....POSB and 5000

[Allan]

As I recall The Mount circuit was two long parallel straights and two short straights which formed the circuit, so four right hand 90 degree turns.

[seaqnmac27]

Mike's Mark2 Escort was a RS2000 and I think that car became the "donor car" for Bob Holmwoods Sports Sedan Escort?

Bobs donor car was definitely the Mark Rutherford Mark 2, here is the link to Bobs build thread which is on here. The Rutherford car was a LHD, I will scan a couple of shots of it over the next day or so.
http://www.theroaringseason.com/showthread.php?116-Bob-Homewood-Escort-Sports-Sedan&highlight=homewood